African violet plant anamed Improved Delaware

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named Improved Delaware characterized by its large, single violet-shaped, purplish red flowers with frilled edges and occasional white trace on a petal; strong, upright flower stems that curve slightly toward the center to form a compact bouquet above the leaves; medium green oval, slightly serrated leaves; profuse flowering, vigorous and compact growth habit, flowering 10-11 weeks after potting, and its long lasting and non-dropping flowers.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Improved Delaware.

The new cultivar was referred to during the breeding and selectionprocess by the designation I 13/35 and is a product of a plannedbreeding program. The basic objective of the breeding program was tocreate a new African violet cultivar improving certain characteristicsof the cultivar Delaware, disclosed in my U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,213. Thenew cultivar was originated from a cross made by me in the controlledbreeding program in Haffen, Federal Republic of Germany. The female, orseed parent was a cultivar designated B 266/1. The male, or pollenparent was a cultivar designated 4158.

Improved Delaware was disclosed and selected by me as a flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment inHaffen, West Germany. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by leafcuttings, as performed by me at Haffen, West Germany, has demonstratedthat the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the newcultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

Improved Delaware has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in a 10 cm pot in Haffen, West Germany and Nashville,Tenn. under greenhouse conditions which closely approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Improved Delaware, which in combinationdistinguish this African violet as a new and distinct cultivar.

(1) Strong, upright flower stems curving slightly toward the center.

(2) Large, single violet-shaped purplish red flowers with wavy edges andoccasional white trace on a petal.

(3) Each plant carries 8-10 and more upright flower stems each of whichcarries 6-8 and more flowers.

(4) Long lasting, non-dropping flowers.

(5) Vigorous and compact grower.

(6) Plant saleable 10 to 11 weeks after potting.

(7) Seed capsules push slightly through.

(8) Medium green, oval leaves.

(9) After maturity the flowers dry off, and remain on the pedunclewithout becoming infected by botrytis.

The new cultivar is most similar to, and was specifically intended toimprove upon the characteristics of, my previously patented cultivarDelaware. In comparison to Delaware, the new cultivar is principallydistinguished by its single violet-shaped blooms instead of star-shaped,wavy edges, smaller leaves, more compact growth habit and improvedflowering habit.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows a typical specimenplant of the new cultivar. The colors appearing in the photograph are astrue as possible with color illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colorsof ordinary significance are referred to. Color values were taken undernatural sunlight conditions at approximately 1 p.m. in Nashville, Tenn.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat., c.v. ImprovedDelaware.

Parentage:

Male parent.--4158.

Female parent.--B 266/1.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings.

Plant: From 9 cm to 12 cm tall when grown in pots, and approximately24-28 cm in diameter when fully grown.

Leaves.--General form: Oval. Diameter: 50-60 mm wide and 55-65 mm long.Texture: Velvety. Aspect: Hairy, slightly shiny, slightly serrated.Veins: Upperside: well visible; underside: well pronounced, light green,shiny. Color (upperside): Yellow-green group 147 A. Color (underside):Greyed-green group 194 D with touches of Greyed-Purple Group 186 B.Younger leaves are Greyed-Purple Group 186 B. Petiole: Strong upright,light green with purplish touch, hairy.

Flowers.--Buds: Bell-shaped, 7-8 mm just before opening, purplish green.Sepals; Five (5). Color: Purplish green. Calyx: Shape: Funnel-shaped.Aspect: Spear-shaped, hairy. Peduncle: Character: Strong upright, hairy.Color: Purplish green. Individual flowers: Size: 45-50 mm Shape: Singleviolet-shaped with wavy edges. Color (upperside): Red-Purple Group 72 Aand somewhat more purplish. Under cooler temperatures and more intensivelighting, the purplish red tends to intensify. Color (underside): Purplegroup 78 A to B. Borne: Each flower stem carries 6-8 and more flowers onstrong, upright peduncle that are free standing above the leaves,thereby forming a compact bouquet. Flowering habit: Flowers 10-11 weeksafter potting.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Two (2). Anthers: 2 composed of 4 anthercells, seed capsule pushes slightly through. Filaments: Yellowish greenwith purplish red touch on edge, 4-5 mm long. Pollen Color: Yellow group7 A. Styles: 7 mm long, purplish red, base of ovary light green andhairy.

Roots.--Normally developed, white when young, turning slightly brownishwhen older.

Disease resistance: Good.

General observations: Improved Delaware is a very attractive, vigorousand compact grower with medium green, oval, slightly serrated leaves. Atight bouquet of flowers free standing above the leaves develops afterapproximately 10-11 weeks. Each of the 8-10 and more strong flower stemscarries 6-8 and more large single flowers with wavy edges. Occasionally,on some plants, a white trace may appear on a petal. The purplish redflowers contrast nicely with the bright yellow anthers. The flowers arelong-lasting and non-dropping and the seed capsules push slightlythrough. Occasionally, an additional very small petal may develop in thecenter.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named ImprovedDelaware, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterizedby its large, single violet-shaped, purplish red flowers with wavyedges; occasional white trace on a petal, strong, upright, flower stemsthat curve slightly toward the center to form a compact bouquet abovethe leaves; medium green oval, slightly serrated leaves; profuseflowering, vigorous and compact growth habit, flowering 10-11 weeksafter potting, and its long lasting and non-dropping flowers.